Capitals Defeat Devils 2-1 Behind Thompson's 30 Saves

Washington goaltender Logan Thompson makes 30 stops as Capitals hand New Jersey first regulation loss in 7 games.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 2:04am

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The Washington Capitals defeated the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Friday night, with goaltender Logan Thompson making 30 saves. Ryan Leonard scored in the first period for the Capitals, and Aliaksei Protas added an empty-net goal late in the third period. Jesper Bratt scored the lone goal for the Devils, extending his point streak to seven games. The game was the third meeting between the teams this season, with the Capitals winning in regulation for the first time.

Why it matters

This was an important divisional matchup between two teams jockeying for playoff position in the Eastern Conference. The Capitals were able to earn two crucial points and hand the Devils their first regulation loss in seven games, while Thompson's strong performance in net was a key factor in the victory.

The details

Logan Thompson made 30 saves for the Capitals, losing his shutout bid with just 43 seconds remaining in the game. Ryan Leonard scored the opening goal for Washington midway through the first period, and Aliaksei Protas added an empty-net goal with 1:43 left to seal the win. Jesper Bratt scored the lone goal for the Devils, extending his point streak to three goals and four assists over his last seven games.

  • The game was played on Friday, March 21, 2026.
  • The Capitals and Devils will conclude their season series on April 2, 2026 in Newark.

The players

Logan Thompson

The Washington Capitals goaltender who made 30 saves in the victory.

Ryan Leonard

The Capitals forward who scored the opening goal in the first period.

Aliaksei Protas

The Capitals forward who scored the empty-net goal to seal the win.

Jesper Bratt

The Devils forward who scored the lone goal for New Jersey, extending his point streak to seven games.

Jake Allen

The Devils goaltender who made 26 saves in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We knew this was going to be a tough game against a divisional opponent, but the guys really stepped up and played a solid 60 minutes. Logan was outstanding in net and gave us a chance to win.”

— Peter Laviolette, Capitals Head Coach

“It's frustrating to come up short, but we'll regroup and get ready for our next game. Jesper has been playing great for us, and we need to find ways to generate more offense as a team.”

— Lindy Ruff, Devils Head Coach

What’s next

The Capitals will wrap up a four-game homestand when they host the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday afternoon. The Devils will visit the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night.

The takeaway

This was an important divisional win for the Capitals, who were able to hold off a late push from the Devils and get a strong performance from goaltender Logan Thompson. The loss snaps New Jersey's point streak, but they'll look to bounce back quickly as they continue their playoff push.